Guzmania plant named &#39;schieli&#39;

ABSTRACT

A new and distinct  Guzmania hybrid  cultivar named ‘SCHIELI’ is disclosed, characterized by a compact plant form, yellow bracts with red tips and many leaves. The new variety is a  Guzmania,  and is normally used as an ornamental plant.

LATIN NAME OF THE GENUS AND SPECIES

Guzmania hybrid

VARIETY DENOMINATION

‘SCHIELI’

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The new cultivar is a product of a chance discovery. The new varietyoriginated as a chance, whole plant mutation from the, unpatented,variety Guzmania hybrid ‘Marjan.’ The new variety was discovered by theinventor, Hubertus van Schie, a citizen of the Netherlands, in Delgauw,the Netherlands during 2004, in among a commercial planting of theparent variety.

Asexual reproduction of the new cultivar ‘Schieli’ was first performedin the Netherlands by tissue culture in 2004. ‘Schieli’ has sinceproduced several generations by tissue culture and has shown that theunique features of this cultivar are stable and reproduced true to type.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The cultivar ‘SCHIELI’ has not been observed under all possibleenvironmental conditions. The phenotype may vary somewhat withvariations in environment such as temperature, day length, and lightintensity, without, however, any variance in genotype.

The following traits have been repeatedly observed and are determined tobe the unique characteristics of ‘SCHIELI.’ These characteristics incombination distinguish ‘SCHIELI’ as a new and distinct Guzmania hybridcultivar:

1. Yellow bracts with red tips

2. Compact plant form.

3. Many leaves.

PARENT COMPARISON

Plants of the new cultivar ‘SCHIELI’ are similar to plants of the parentvariety, an Guzmania hybrid ‘Marjan’, in most horticulturalcharacteristics. However, plants of the new cultivar ‘SCHIELI’ are morecompact. Additionally, ‘Marjan’ typically has entirely yellow bracts,whereas the new variety has significant amounts of red in the bracts.

COMMERCIAL COMPARISON

Plants of the new cultivar ‘SCHIELI’ are similar to plants of theunpatented commercial variety, Guzmania hybrid ‘Sunnytime’ in mosthorticultural characteristics. However, plants of the new cultivar‘SCHIELI’ are more compact than ‘Sunnytime’ and ‘SCHIELI’ producesbracts with more red than ‘Sunnytime.’

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE PHOTOGRAPH

The accompanying photograph in FIG. 1 illustrates in full color atypical plant of ‘SCHIELI’ grown in a greenhouse. The pot size is acommercial 15 cm container. The plant shown is approximately 18 monthsold. The photograph was taken using conventional techniques and althoughcolors may appear different from actual colors due to light reflectanceit is as accurate as possible by conventional photographic techniques.

DETAILED BOTANICAL DESCRIPTION

In the following description, color references are made to The RoyalHorticultural Society Colour Chart except where general terms ofordinary dictionary significance are used. The following observationsand measurements describe ‘SCHIELI’ plants grown in a commercialcontrolled greenhouse in Delfgauw, the Netherlands. Temperatures rangedfrom 20° C. to 28° C. night and day. No artificial light, photoperiodictreatments or chemical treatments were given to the plants. Measurementsand numerical values represent averages of typical plant types.

-   Botanical classification: Guzmania hybrid ‘SCHIELI’-   Age of plant described: Approximately 1 year.-   Container size of plant described: Approximately 12 cm.-   Propagation:-   Type of propagation typically used: Tissue culture-   Time to initiate roots: About 70 days at approximately 20-28° C.-   Time to produce a rooted cutting/liner: About 125 days at    approximately 20-28° C.-   Root description: Moderately dense, moderately branched, fine,    fibrous, not fleshy, colored near RHS Grey 201C-   Plant:-   Growth habit: Upright, monopodial-   Height: Average: 42.7 cm-   Plant spread: Average: 65.5 cm-   Normal pot size: 12 cm-   Growth rate: Moderate-   Branching characteristics: Monopodial, leaves form a basal rosette,    inflorescence grows from the center of the rosette-   Number of leaves per scape: Average: 26-   Stem length: No stems present, scape grows directly from rosette-   Foliage:-   Leaf:    -   -   Arrangement.—Rosulate; leaves (average: 26) placed in a            basal rosette.        -   Average length.—Approximately 34.8 cm.        -   Average width.13 Approximately 4.2 cm.        -   Shape of blade.—Ligulate.        -   Aspect.—Arching downward.        -   Apex.—Apiculate.        -   Base.—Sheathing Sheath length: Average 6.8 cm Sheath width:            Average 7.9 cm. Sheath color: Near RHS Yellow-Green 152B.        -   Margin.—Entire.        -   Texture of top surface.—Smooth, very glossy.        -   Texture of bottom surface.—Smooth, very glossy.        -   Color.—Young foliage upper side: Near RHS Yellow-Green 145A            Young foliage under side: Near RHS Yellow-Green 145B Mature            foliage upper side: Near RHS Green N137A Mature foliage            under side: Near RHS Yellow-Green 146A.        -   Venation.—Type: Parallel Venation coloration: Near RHS Green            N137A.-   Petiole: No petioles present, leaves sheathing-   Inflorescence:-   General description:    -   -   Inflorescence height, excluding scape.—Approximately 12.0            cm.        -   Inflorescence width.—Approximately 23.7 cm.-   Scape:    -   -   Length.—Approximately 26.0 cm.        -   Width.—Approximately 1.2 cm.        -   Aspect.—Approximately 90° angle to rosette (near vertical).        -   Strength.—Very strong.        -   Color.—Near RHS Yellow-Green 150C.-   Bracts:-   Scape/lowermost bracts:    -   -   Shape.—Ligulate.        -   Length.—Approximately 18.4 cm, excluding sheath.        -   Width.—Approximately 2.8 cm.        -   Quantity.—Average 8.        -   Tip.—Apiculate.        -   Base.—Sheathing. Sheath length: Approximately 7.2 cm Sheath            width: Approximately 3.6 cm. Sheath color: Near RHS            Yellow-Green 146D.        -   Margin.—Color Upperside: Upper half of the leaf blade near            RHS Green N137A, lower half of the leaf blade near RHS            Orange-Red 31A Color Underside: Upper half of the leaf blade            near RHS Yellow-Green 147B, lower half of the leaf blade            near RHS Orange-Red 33A.-   Terminal bracts:    -   -   Shape.—Short ligulate to triangular.        -   Length.—Approximately 9.5 cm, excluding sheath.        -   Width.—Approximately 3.6 cm.        -   Quantity.—Average 19.        -   Tip.—Acute.        -   Base.—Sheathing Sheath length: Approximately 2.5 cm. Sheath            width: Approximately 3.9 cm. Sheath color: Near RHS            Yellow-Green 153D.        -   Margin.—Entire.        -   Coloration terminal bracts.—Upperside: Near RHS            Yellow-Orange 23A, tip near RHS Orange-Red N34A Underside:            Near RHS Orange 25A, tinged with RHS Orange-Red 34B, tip            near Red 45B.-   Other characteristics:-   Disease resistance: Neither resistance nor susceptibility to    diseases or pests has been observed in this variety.-   Drought tolerance and cold tolerance: Observed to tolerate    temperatures to 40° C. without any negative effects. Temperature    tolerance above this range has not been observed. Tolerance of cold    temperatures has not been observed.-   Fruit/seed production: Not observed.

1. A new and distinct cultivar of Guzmania plant named ‘SCHIELI’ asherein illustrated and described.